FAQs

It can be very concerning to find a lost pet, and most of us want to find the owner as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, at this time, there is not a way to match the collar with the owner. Contact your local animal control to understand what services are available in your area to help locate the owner.

Yes, the receiver can be place on any non-metallic strap. However, you must be able and willing to “punch” two holes in your pet's current collar so that the contact points can be properly inserted. Be advised; do not attach a leash to a collar that has a receiver on it. This can cause additional pressure on your pets neck through the contact points in the collar.

Never leave the receiver collar on your pet for more than 12 consecutive hours and remove the receiver collar from your pet when indoors for the comfort of your pet.

Millions of pets are comfortable while they wear stainless steel contacts. Here are some important steps for the health and comfort of your pet:

Proper fit of the collar is important. A collar worn for too long or made too tight on the pet’s neck may cause skin damage. Ranging from redness to pressure ulcers; this condition is commonly known as bed sores.

When possible reposition the collar on the pet’s neck every few hours.

Check the fit to prevent excessive pressure.

Always follow the instructions in your product manual.

Never connect a lead/leash to the electronic collar; it will cause excessive pressure on the contact points within the collar.

Wash the dog’s neck area and the contacts of the collar weekly with a damp cloth.

You may need to trim your pet's hair in the area of the contact points for your system to function properly. However, never shave the dog’s neck; this may lead to a rash or infection.

Some pets have sensitivity to the contact points in the collar, a condition similar to bed sores in humans. You may find after some time that your pet is very tolerant of the collar. If so, you may relax some of these precautions.

The Boundary Flags are visual reminders for your pet of where the Boundary Zone is located. The Receiver Collar will activate within 2 to 3 feet of the Boundary Flags. The flags should go just inside the boundary zone along the wire. To locate the wire:

Remove the receiver collar from your pet and ensure it is on.

Hold the test light to the receiver collar contacts at your pet’s neck height and walk out into your yard.

Hold the collar and test light at the level of your pet's height.

Walk towards the warning zone until the receiver collar beeps and the test light tool illuminates.

Place a boundary flag in the ground at the location where you hear the beep and see the light of the test light tool flash.

Walk back into the pet area until the beeping stops.

Repeat this process around your yard, placing flags every 10 feet until the containment yard is fully marked with flags.

Note: the higher the level of correction of the receiver collar, the brighter the light with flash. If you cannot see the light flash, increase the level of correction of the collar.

You can, but it is not recommended due to the potential for damage to the wire. We do recommend that you bury the wire or place it in a protective casing like a water hose but the system will work with the exposed and wire above ground. The boundary wire is buried so that it is not accidentally tripped over, cut, or damaged. Use care when using a weed eater or when digging near the boundary wire to prevent damage. It can be attached to any fence including a metal fence as long as it is galvanized. When attaching the boundary wire to the fence, becareful not to sever the wire.

Before you begin splicing wire, it will be helpful to you to note the locations of all splices for future reference. If you ever have a wire break, these most often happen at a splice, and it will be helpful to you to be able to find your splices easily if this ever happens.

It will also be helpful to make your splices waterproof. Gel-filled splices are included in your original containment system. Additional splice capsules and wire nuts are available for purchase online, by calling the Customer Care Center at 1-866-738-4379, and at most hardware stores.

To make a splice:

Strip approximately 3⁄8 inch of insulation off the ends of the boundary wires to be spliced. Make sure the copper of the wire is not corroded. If the boundary wire is corroded, cut it back to expose clean copper wire.

Insert the stripped ends into the wire nut and twist the wire nut around the wires. Ensure that there is no copper exposed beyond the end of the wire nut. Tie a knot 3 to 4 inches from the wire nut. Ensure that the wire nut is secure on the wire splice.

Once you have securely spliced the wires together, open the lid of the gel-filled splice capsule and insert the wire nut as deeply as possible into the waterproof gel inside the capsule.

Snap the lid of the capsule shut. For proper system performance, the splice connection must be waterproof.

Note: If your splice pulls loose, the system will not function. Make sure your splice is secure.

You have a few options for working with a driveway as a part of your containment system.

Concrete Driveway
If your driveway is concrete, you can place the boundary wire in a convenient expansion joint or create a groove using a circular saw and masonry blade.

Clean out the expansion joint or groove.

Place the boundary wire in the groove

Cover the wire with an appropriate water proofing compound.

It may help to you to use landscape staples or half of a small piece of PVC pipe or water hose to protect the wire on either side of the driveway or sidewalk. This will ensure that the wire isn't cut during activities such as weed eating or mowing near the driveway.

If you do not wish to cut your driveway and an expansion joint is not an option, you may want to consider using a double loop layout (See: What is the double loop layout and why do I need to do it?). You may also want to reconsider your layout and avoid the driveway as a part of your containment area.

Gravel or Dirt Driveway
If your drive is gravel or dirt, you can run the boundary wire through a PVC pipe or section of water hose to protect the boundary wire. Then bury the pipe or hose and wire.

This will vary depending on how often your dog tests the boundary. In most cases the battery will last 1 to 3 months and in some cases up to six months. It is important to check the batteries regularly.

This is dependent on the layout you have planned, soil conditions, the tools you are using, amount of wire buried, etc. The majority of the time involved in installing your system is in burying the wire. This is typically considered a weekend project; it can be completed in about a day. It's very helpful to have someone to help you plan, layout, and install the system.

There is a switch on the side of your transmitter, it may read "A,B,C" or "High, Low". The settings on the A, B, C switch help to adjust the resistance in your containment perimeter. Use this feature, along with the range dial to adjust the distance from the wire to the point where your pet's receiver collar will activate. Many factors will determine which setting is the best for you (the amount of wire in your layout, interference in your yard and home, your wire layout, etc.). Please try all 3 settings individually to determine which is the best option for your perimeter.

The short loop test or system test is a simple test to determine if each component (fence transmitter, receiver collar, and boundary wire) is functioning properly. You'll need a piece of boundary wire at least 15 feet long. Write down the settings for your boundary control switch, boundary width control knob, and receiver collar before starting the test.

Remove the receive collar from your pet. Make sure the battery is still good.

Set the boundary control switch to B.

Set the receiver collar correction level to 5.

Disconnect the twisted boundary wire from the boundary wire terminals on the transmitter by pressing the red release levers on the connector and pulling the wires free.

Insert the two ends of the test loop wire into the two boundary wire terminals on the transmitter. Lay test wire in a loop.

Turn the boundary width control knob to 10 and then back to 5.

Place the test light tool contacts on the contact points of the receiver collar. While holding the receiver collar with the test light tool in place, approach the wire from outside the loop, holding the collar 2 inches off the ground. Note the distance where the receiver collar activates from the wire.

Turn the boundary width control knob to 10 and repeat step 7. The distance where the receiver collar activates should be greater than the previous result.

If more than one receiver collar is used on the system, repeat the above test on each collar.

Keep boundary width control knob position at 10. Set the boundary control switch to A. Approach the loop with the receiver collar as in Step 7 and verify the receiver collar activates.

Keep the boundary width control knob position at 10. Set the boundary control switch to C. Approach the loop with the receiver collar as in Step 7 and verify the receiver collar activates.

When testing is complete, return the boundary control switch and the boundary width control setting to the original positions noted earlier.

Remove the test loop wire. Reconnect the twisted boundary wire from the boundary wire terminals on the transmitter by pressing the red release levers on the connector and inserting the wires.

Repeat the boundary width testing from Step 6 until you achieve the desired boundary width of 12-20 feet.

Interpreting the Results

If the power light or the loop indicator light are not both lit on the transmitter, or the alarm is on for any of the above tests, there is a problem with the transmitter. Contact the Customer Care Center.

If both the power and loop indicator lights are on, but the receiver collar does not activate on the test loop wire, the receiver collar is not working. Contact the Customer Care Center.

If the transmitter power and loop indicator lights are on in each of the 3 boundary control switch positions, and the receiver collar is activating at different distances on the test loop wire, the problem is most likely in the containment boundary wire. Perform the wire break location test to find and correct the wire break in your boundary wire.

NOTE: Please note that some partial breaks do not cause the loop light to go out or the break alarm to activate, but can affect the signal. Be sure to check all splices, as many breaks in the wire occur in the area of the splices. When checking splices, look for any moisture or corrosion due to water getting to the wire.

A double loop is a type of wire layout which gives you the option to establish a boundary when you do not want to contain your whole property. In the double loop layout, you run the wire from your transmitter and around the yard. Once the wire reaches the opposite side of the yard from the transmitter, the wire needs to make a U-turn and follow the same path at least 5 feet away from itself as it goes back into the transmitter.

If you already have a PetSafe in-ground fence, you can use the same collar with our pet proofing barriers. Purchase an extra barrier and place it in an area you don't want your pet to access. Choose from indoor and outdoor barriers.

While we recommend your pet be at least 5 or 8 pounds to wear our wireless or in-ground collars, many smaller dogs and even cats can wear collars from other fences. That means you can add your new small dog to your existing system, or you can purchase a wireless fence and collars for each pet.

Our office dogs have personally tested these collars to make sure they will work for your pets.

Oliver the 4-pound Chihuahua loves showing off his In-Ground UltraLight™ Receiver Collar, which weighs 2.64 ounces. This is the standard collar that comes with the Basic In-Ground Fence™ and In-Ground Fence™.

Once your pet learns the Boundary Zone, he will be reluctant to cross it for walks or car rides. You may need to convince your pet to leave the Pet Area with treats and praise.

Before you take your pet across the Boundary Zone, remove the Receiver Collar. Make sure your pet is wearing his standard collar and attach a leash to the collar.

There are 3 ways to take your pet outside the Boundary Zone.

If you're going for a drive together and your car is in the Pet Area, you can put your pet in the car and drive him out of the Pet Area.

You can also walk your pet out of the Pet Area. Give a command such as “OK” at a specific place of the Boundary Zone, such as the end of your driveway or sidewalk. Always leave the Pet Area with a leash at this place and your pet will associate leaving the Pet Area only on a leash, only at this place, and only with a person.

Installation & Setup

This is dependent on the layout you have planned, soil conditions, the tools you are using, amount of wire buried, etc. The majority of the time involved in installing your system is in burying the wire. This is typically considered a weekend project; it can be completed in about a day. It's very helpful to have someone to help you plan, layout, and install the system.

With the Single Loop layout, you'll bury one continuous wire around your entire yard. You can also use this layout to keep your dog out of your garden or pool.

The Double Loop Layout lets you create a boundary for part of your property. This is a great way to give your dog access to the back or front yard only. For a waterfront property, the Double Loop layout can give your dog access to the yard and dock.

The Hourglass Loop keeps your pet in the front yard and back yard only, keeping your pet away from the sides of your home. This is also a great option for narrow lots.

You can also use your in-ground fence in a yard with a traditional fence. Use the Double Loop layout with a partially fenced yard. With a fully fenced yard, use a Single Loop layout and attach the wires to the fence instead of burying them.

When installing an in-ground fence system, lay out the boundary wire around your property. Use your proposed boundary and test the system before burying the wire. This will give you freedom to adjust your wire layout if you need to.

If you must cross underground utilities or buried cables with the boundary wire, do so at a 90-degree angle (perpendicularly). If you have a neighbor with a containment system, keep the boundary wires of your systems at least 5 feet apart. It may help to talk to your neighbor about the location of their boundary wire in their yard. If separating the wire by at least 5 feet from a neighboring containment systems wire does not reduce the inconsistent signal, contact our Customer Care Center.

Twist the Boundary Wire

Twisting the boundary wire cancels the signal and allows your pet to cross over that area without receiving a static correction. When twisting wire, you must be twisting wire that completes the radio signal circuit. This means, there is a wire leading from the transmitter and the wire goes around your yard and returns to the transmitter. You must be twisting portions of the leading and returning wires together in order to cancel the signal in that area. Plastic or metal piping will not cancel the signal. Twist the boundary wire 8 to 10 times per foot to cancel the signal.

Splice or Repair the Boundary Wire

If you need additional boundary wire to expand your wire loop, you will need to splice the wires together. Since wire breaks tend to occur at splices, it is helpful to note the locations of all splices for future reference. We also recommend that you create waterproof splices using gel-filled splicing caps. These are available for purchase online or by contacting our Customer Care Center. They are also included in current containment systems.

To create a splice or repair wire:

Strip approximately one-half inch of insulation off the ends of the boundary wires to be spliced. Make sure the copper boundary wire is not corroded. If the boundary wire is corroded, cut it back to expose clean copper wire.

Insert the stripped ends into the wire nut and twist the wire nut around the wires. Pull on the wires to make sure you have a strong splice connection. If you do not have gel-filled caps, apply waterproofing compound (e.g. silicone caulk) in and around the wire nut or wrap the wires and the wire nuts with electrical tape to prevent moisture from corroding the copper.

If your splice pulls loose, the entire system will fail. Make sure your splice is secure.

Connecting the Wires to the Fence Transmitter

Run the boundary wire to the fence transmitter through a window, under a door, through a crawl space vent, or any other appropriate available access. You can also carefully drill a hole through your wall.

Strip the coating of the ends of the boundary wire approximately one-half inch exposing the copper wire.

Insert the boundary wires into the boundary wire terminals on the fence transmitter.

Turn the boundary width control knob to 10. This will set the warning zone at the maximum width.

Plug the power adapter into the power jack and a 120-volt outlet.

The power light and loop indicator lights should come on. If this does not happen, contact our Customer Care Center.

Once you have run your boundary wire around your yard, creating the basic shape of your desired containment area, you should connect the boundary wire to the fence transmitter and confirm the system works properly prior to burying the wire. To do this:

Run the boundary wire to the fence transmitter through a window, under a door, through a crawl space vent, or any other appropriate available access. You can also carefully drill a hole through your wall.

Strip the wire coating ends of the boundary wire approximately one-half inch, exposing the copper wire.

Insert the boundary wires into the boundary wire terminals on the fence transmitter.

Turn the boundary width control knob to 10. This will set the warning zone at the maximum width.

Plug the power adapter into the power jack and a 120-volt outlet.

The power light and loop indicator lights should come on. If this does not happen, contact our Customer Care Center.

The Boundary Flags are visual reminders for your pet of where the Boundary Zone is located. The Receiver Collar will activate within 2 to 3 feet of the Boundary Flags. The flags should go just inside the boundary zone along the wire. To locate the wire:

Remove the receiver collar from your pet and ensure it is on.

Hold the test light to the receiver collar contacts at your pet’s neck height and walk out into your yard.

Hold the collar and test light at the level of your pet's height.

Walk towards the warning zone until the receiver collar beeps and the test light tool illuminates.

Place a boundary flag in the ground at the location where you hear the beep and see the light of the test light tool flash.

Walk back into the pet area until the beeping stops.

Repeat this process around your yard, placing flags every 10 feet until the containment yard is fully marked with flags.

Note: the higher the level of correction of the receiver collar, the brighter the light with flash. If you cannot see the light flash, increase the level of correction of the collar.

The proper fit and placement of your receiver collar is important for effective training. The contact points must have direct contact with your pets skin on the underside of their neck.

Make sure the receiver collar is turned off.

Start with your pet standing comfortably.

Center the contact points underneath your pets neck, touching the skin. If your pet has a long or thick coat, consider using the long contact points to reach through the fur. These can be purchased online or from our Customer Care Center. Note: It is sometimes necessary to trim the hair around the contact points to make sure that contact is consistent.

Check the tightness of the receiver collar by inserting one finger between the end of a contact point and your pets neck. The fit should be snug but not constricting.

Allow your pet to wear the collar for several minutes then recheck the fit. Check the fit again as your pet becomes more comfortable with the receiver collar.

If you'd like to to trim the collar strap, mark the desired length of the receiver collar with a pen. Allow for growth if your pet is young or grows a thick winter coat. Remove the receiver collar from your pet and cut off the excess. If your receiver has a nylon strap, seal the edge of the cut collar by applying a flame along the frayed edge.

If your collar is a QuickFit collar, it is designed so you can quickly attach and remove the Receiver Collar from your pet while maintaining the desired fit.

With the Snap Buckle fastened, thread the collar through the Metal Buckle .

Slide the excess collar through the “C” Loop on top of the Snap Buckle. This will hold the excess collar in place.

Once the collar fit is determined, use the Snap Buckle to remove and replace the collar.

Replacing the Receiver on a New Collar Strap

Slide the receiver off the old strap.

Slide the receiver on the new strap.

Adjust the slide buckle so the collar won't become loose around your pet’s neck.

You have a few options for working with a driveway as a part of your containment system.

Concrete Driveway
If your driveway is concrete, you can place the boundary wire in a convenient expansion joint or create a groove using a circular saw and masonry blade.

Clean out the expansion joint or groove.

Place the boundary wire in the groove

Cover the wire with an appropriate water proofing compound.

It may help to you to use landscape staples or half of a small piece of PVC pipe or water hose to protect the wire on either side of the driveway or sidewalk. This will ensure that the wire isn't cut during activities such as weed eating or mowing near the driveway.

If you do not wish to cut your driveway and an expansion joint is not an option, you may want to consider using a double loop layout (See: What is the double loop layout and why do I need to do it?). You may also want to reconsider your layout and avoid the driveway as a part of your containment area.

Gravel or Dirt Driveway
If your drive is gravel or dirt, you can run the boundary wire through a PVC pipe or section of water hose to protect the boundary wire. Then bury the pipe or hose and wire.

You can, but it is not recommended due to the potential for damage to the wire. We do recommend that you bury the wire or place it in a protective casing like a water hose but the system will work with the exposed and wire above ground. The boundary wire is buried so that it is not accidentally tripped over, cut, or damaged. Use care when using a weed eater or when digging near the boundary wire to prevent damage. It can be attached to any fence including a metal fence as long as it is galvanized. When attaching the boundary wire to the fence, becareful not to sever the wire.

A double loop is a type of wire layout which gives you the option to establish a boundary when you do not want to contain your whole property. In the double loop layout, you run the wire from your transmitter and around the yard. Once the wire reaches the opposite side of the yard from the transmitter, the wire needs to make a U-turn and follow the same path at least 5 feet away from itself as it goes back into the transmitter.

There is a switch on the side of your transmitter, it may read "A,B,C" or "High, Low". The settings on the A, B, C switch help to adjust the resistance in your containment perimeter. Use this feature, along with the range dial to adjust the distance from the wire to the point where your pet's receiver collar will activate. Many factors will determine which setting is the best for you (the amount of wire in your layout, interference in your yard and home, your wire layout, etc.). Please try all 3 settings individually to determine which is the best option for your perimeter.

The boundary wire you use must be copper and insulated, and can be between 14-20 gauge. The smaller the gauge number, the bigger the wire. You can determine the gauge and type of wire by the color of the insulation.

You can mix stranded and solid wire by splicing them together. You can also mix two different gauges as long as they are just one gauge apart. For example, you can splice together 18 and 20 gauge wire, but not 16 and 20 gauge. However, the containment area will only be as strong as the smallest gauge of wire, so the total boundary area may vary slightly.

When splicing wire, we recommend using the gel-filled splice capsules that come with the kits. To splice wires:

Strip about 3/8”of insulation from each end of the wire.

Insert the stripped ends of the wire into the wire nut and twist.

Tie a knot 3-4 inches from the wire nut.

Insert the wire nut as deep as possible into the gel inside the capsule.

Training

The Boundary Flags are visual reminders for your pet of where the Boundary Zone is located. The Receiver Collar will activate within 2 to 3 feet of the Boundary Flags. The flags should go just inside the boundary zone along the wire. To locate the wire:

Remove the receiver collar from your pet and ensure it is on.

Hold the test light to the receiver collar contacts at your pet’s neck height and walk out into your yard.

Hold the collar and test light at the level of your pet's height.

Walk towards the warning zone until the receiver collar beeps and the test light tool illuminates.

Place a boundary flag in the ground at the location where you hear the beep and see the light of the test light tool flash.

Walk back into the pet area until the beeping stops.

Repeat this process around your yard, placing flags every 10 feet until the containment yard is fully marked with flags.

Note: the higher the level of correction of the receiver collar, the brighter the light with flash. If you cannot see the light flash, increase the level of correction of the collar.

The proper fit and placement of your receiver collar is important for effective training. The contact points must have direct contact with your pets skin on the underside of their neck.

Make sure the receiver collar is turned off.

Start with your pet standing comfortably.

Center the contact points underneath your pets neck, touching the skin. If your pet has a long or thick coat, consider using the long contact points to reach through the fur. These can be purchased online or from our Customer Care Center. Note: It is sometimes necessary to trim the hair around the contact points to make sure that contact is consistent.

Check the tightness of the receiver collar by inserting one finger between the end of a contact point and your pets neck. The fit should be snug but not constricting.

Allow your pet to wear the collar for several minutes then recheck the fit. Check the fit again as your pet becomes more comfortable with the receiver collar.

If you'd like to to trim the collar strap, mark the desired length of the receiver collar with a pen. Allow for growth if your pet is young or grows a thick winter coat. Remove the receiver collar from your pet and cut off the excess. If your receiver has a nylon strap, seal the edge of the cut collar by applying a flame along the frayed edge.

If your collar is a QuickFit collar, it is designed so you can quickly attach and remove the Receiver Collar from your pet while maintaining the desired fit.

With the Snap Buckle fastened, thread the collar through the Metal Buckle .

Slide the excess collar through the “C” Loop on top of the Snap Buckle. This will hold the excess collar in place.

Once the collar fit is determined, use the Snap Buckle to remove and replace the collar.

Replacing the Receiver on a New Collar Strap

Slide the receiver off the old strap.

Slide the receiver on the new strap.

Adjust the slide buckle so the collar won't become loose around your pet’s neck.

Never leave the receiver collar on your pet for more than 12 consecutive hours and remove the receiver collar from your pet when indoors for the comfort of your pet.

Millions of pets are comfortable while they wear stainless steel contacts. Here are some important steps for the health and comfort of your pet:

Proper fit of the collar is important. A collar worn for too long or made too tight on the pet’s neck may cause skin damage. Ranging from redness to pressure ulcers; this condition is commonly known as bed sores.

When possible reposition the collar on the pet’s neck every few hours.

Check the fit to prevent excessive pressure.

Always follow the instructions in your product manual.

Never connect a lead/leash to the electronic collar; it will cause excessive pressure on the contact points within the collar.

Wash the dog’s neck area and the contacts of the collar weekly with a damp cloth.

You may need to trim your pet's hair in the area of the contact points for your system to function properly. However, never shave the dog’s neck; this may lead to a rash or infection.

Some pets have sensitivity to the contact points in the collar, a condition similar to bed sores in humans. You may find after some time that your pet is very tolerant of the collar. If so, you may relax some of these precautions.

All pets are different, so it's important to be patient with yourself and your pet. Some pets may understand the training quickly, and others may take more time. Paying attention to your pet while you are going through the training and having patience will ensure you both enjoy years of freedom and safety.

Goal:
The goal of phase 1 training is to familiarize your pet with the boundary flags, boundary, tone, and correction. You will introduce your pet to the tone and the static correction and teach your pet where it happens.

Setup:

Turn your pet’s receiver collar on and set it to level 1, the tone only setting. If your collar does not have a tone only setting, do not place the collar on your pet during this phase of training.

Place the receiver collar on your pet’s neck or simply hold the collar near enough for your pet to hear the beeping of the collar during training.

Training sessions should start at 10-15 minutes, gradually increasing to over an hour. Your pet is ready for this step only when he clearly avoids the entire boundary flag line, regardless of any distractions or temptations. During this step, do not leave your pet unattended.

Goal
To train your pet to stay within the pet area even with distractions outside of the pet area.

Setup

Put a separate non-metallic collar on your pet’s neck ABOVE the receiver collar and attach a leash. Note: Be sure the extra collar does not put pressure on the contact points.

Create distractions to tempt your pet to enter the warning and static correction zones, such as have a family member cross from inside the pet area to outside of it, throw a ball outside of the pet area, or have a neighbor walk their pet outside of the pet area.

Steps

Put the collar on your pet and in the "on" position.

Walk your pet on a leash toward the boundary flags. Use one of the distraction methods list above. If your pet follows, let him / her feel a correction and quickly lead them back into the pet area and praise them. If your pet does not follow the family member, praise him / her warmly.

Have a family member or a neighbor with a dog walk outside the pet area parallel to the boundary flag line.

Repeat the interaction with your pet as in step 1.

With your pet on a leash, throw a ball outside the boundary flag line. Again, repeat the interaction with your dog as in previous steps.

This can happen if the static correction level is too high. It is best to start on the lowest level of correction and increase the levels gradually. To solve your immediate issue, lower the static correction level and reassure your pet and offer praise.

Make sure you are in control of the situation when your pet receives his/her first static corrections (have him/her on a leash attached to a separate, non-metallic collar) and lead him into the pet area and praise him/her. If your pet remains fearful, suspend training and start again the next day. Make sure to end all training sessions on a positive note with lots of praise and play.

Troubleshooting

The proper fit and placement of your receiver collar is important for effective training. The contact points must have direct contact with your pets skin on the underside of their neck.

Make sure the receiver collar is turned off.

Start with your pet standing comfortably.

Center the contact points underneath your pets neck, touching the skin. If your pet has a long or thick coat, consider using the long contact points to reach through the fur. These can be purchased online or from our Customer Care Center. Note: It is sometimes necessary to trim the hair around the contact points to make sure that contact is consistent.

Check the tightness of the receiver collar by inserting one finger between the end of a contact point and your pets neck. The fit should be snug but not constricting.

Allow your pet to wear the collar for several minutes then recheck the fit. Check the fit again as your pet becomes more comfortable with the receiver collar.

If you'd like to to trim the collar strap, mark the desired length of the receiver collar with a pen. Allow for growth if your pet is young or grows a thick winter coat. Remove the receiver collar from your pet and cut off the excess. If your receiver has a nylon strap, seal the edge of the cut collar by applying a flame along the frayed edge.

If your collar is a QuickFit collar, it is designed so you can quickly attach and remove the Receiver Collar from your pet while maintaining the desired fit.

With the Snap Buckle fastened, thread the collar through the Metal Buckle .

Slide the excess collar through the “C” Loop on top of the Snap Buckle. This will hold the excess collar in place.

Once the collar fit is determined, use the Snap Buckle to remove and replace the collar.

Replacing the Receiver on a New Collar Strap

Slide the receiver off the old strap.

Slide the receiver on the new strap.

Adjust the slide buckle so the collar won't become loose around your pet’s neck.

This can happen if the static correction level is too high. It is best to start on the lowest level of correction and increase the levels gradually. To solve your immediate issue, lower the static correction level and reassure your pet and offer praise.

Make sure you are in control of the situation when your pet receives his/her first static corrections (have him/her on a leash attached to a separate, non-metallic collar) and lead him into the pet area and praise him/her. If your pet remains fearful, suspend training and start again the next day. Make sure to end all training sessions on a positive note with lots of praise and play.

Before you begin splicing wire, it will be helpful to you to note the locations of all splices for future reference. If you ever have a wire break, these most often happen at a splice, and it will be helpful to you to be able to find your splices easily if this ever happens.

It will also be helpful to make your splices waterproof. Gel-filled splices are included in your original containment system. Additional splice capsules and wire nuts are available for purchase online, by calling the Customer Care Center at 1-866-738-4379, and at most hardware stores.

To make a splice:

Strip approximately 3⁄8 inch of insulation off the ends of the boundary wires to be spliced. Make sure the copper of the wire is not corroded. If the boundary wire is corroded, cut it back to expose clean copper wire.

Insert the stripped ends into the wire nut and twist the wire nut around the wires. Ensure that there is no copper exposed beyond the end of the wire nut. Tie a knot 3 to 4 inches from the wire nut. Ensure that the wire nut is secure on the wire splice.

Once you have securely spliced the wires together, open the lid of the gel-filled splice capsule and insert the wire nut as deeply as possible into the waterproof gel inside the capsule.

Snap the lid of the capsule shut. For proper system performance, the splice connection must be waterproof.

Note: If your splice pulls loose, the system will not function. Make sure your splice is secure.

The loop light goes off and the Transmitter starts beeping when a wire break is detected. Try a System Test to check to see if your wire is broken.

Remove the Receiver Collar from your dog and make sure it is installed with a good battery.

Unplug the Power Adapter from the Fence Transmitter Power Jack. Note the current range settings.

Set the Range Boundary Control switch to Low.

Set the Receiver Collar Static Correction level to highest setting, if applicable.

Disconnect the twisted Boundary Wire from the Boundary Wire terminals on the Fence Transmitter by pressing the red release levers on the connector and pulling the wires free. For older Transmitters unscrew the red terminals.

Cut approximately 15 feet of unused Boundary Wire, strip 3/8 inch off the ends of both sides, and connect it to the Boundary Wire Terminals.

Insert the two ends of the test loop wire into the Boundary Wire Terminals on the Transmitter.

If the battery is changed too quickly in a Receiver, the Receiver may not have had enough time to recognize that it has a new battery. Remove the new battery and either hold down the correction level button or let the collar sit for an hour without a battery.

Check the boundary control settings to make sure the system range isn’t turned down too low or too high.

Check the batteries in your Receiver.

Try a system test to make sure your Transmitter and Receiver are working correctly:

Remove the Receiver Collar from your dog and make sure it is installed with a good battery.

Unplug the Power Adapter from the Fence Transmitter Power Jack. Note the current range settings.

Set the Range Boundary Control switch to Low.

Set the Receiver Collar Static Correction level to the highest setting, if applicable.

Disconnect the twisted Boundary Wire from the Boundary Wire terminals on the Fence Transmitter by pressing the red release levers on the connector and pulling the wires free. For older Transmitters unscrew the red terminals.

Cut approximately 15 feet of unused Boundary Wire, strip 3/8 inch off the ends of both sides, and connect it to the Boundary Wire Terminals.

Insert the 2 ends of the test loop wire into the Boundary Wire Terminals on the Transmitter.

Plug the Power Adapter into the Fence Transmitter Power Jack.

Turn the Boundary Width control knob to 10 and then back to 5.

Place the Test Light Tool Contacts on the Contact Points of the Receiver Collar. While holding the Receiver Collar with the Test Light Tool in place, approach the wire from outside the loop. Make a mental note of the distance between you and the wire when the Receiver Collar activates.

Turn the Boundary Width Control knob to 10 and repeat step 9. The distance where the Receiver Collar activates should be greater than that of step 9.

If more than one Receiver Collar is used on the system, repeat the above test on each Collar.

Interpreting the Results:

If the Power light or the Loop indicator light are not both lit on the Fence Transmitter or the alarm is on, call Customer Care.

If both the Power and Loop indicator lights are on and the Transmitter alarms when you remove one side of the wire, but the Receiver Collar does not activate on the test loop wire, call Customer Care.

If both the Power and Loop indicator lights are on and the Receiver Collar is activating at different distances on the test loop wire, the problem is in the containment Boundary Wire.

If the signal on your wire is too high or too low, check the settings on your Transmitter. Refer to the chart below and make sure the High/Low or A/B/C setting on your Transmitter is set correctly for your yard layout size.

For Transmitters with A/B/C:

A: More than 2400 feet of wire in layout

B: Up to 1300 feet of wire in layout

C: 1300 - 2400 feet of wire in layout

For Transmitters with High/Low:

High: 30 acres or more of wire in layout

Low: Less than 30 acres of wire in layout

If signal issues continue, make sure there are no large metal objects or electronic items near the Transmitter or along the fence line, as this can affect the signal. You might need to move large metal objects farther away from the boundary wire or move your boundary wire to a different location.

A neighboring containment system may be causing an inconsistent signal in one or both of your systems. You will need to move the boundary wires of each system away from each other by at least 10 feet. You may need to work with your neighbor to resolve the issue.

Test the receiver collar with the test light tool, walking toward the boundary wire. If the test light flashes, check the fit of the receiver collar on your pet.

If receiver collar is not activating see “My receiver collar is not correcting.”

If receiver collar is activating:

If receiver collar has adjustable correction levels, increase the level of static correction one level at a time and test each level on your pet before progressing to the next level

Turn up transmitter boundary dial

Trim pet’s fur

Purchase longer contact points

Repeat the training steps to reinforce the boundary for your pet.

If pet is now receiving the correction but still will not stay in the yard, even after reinforcement of training, you may need a stronger receiver collar. We offer a stubborn dog receiver collar with higher correction intensity levels for wireless systems and one for in-ground systems.

Take battery out of the collar for several minutes and replace it with new battery. Make sure battery is installed properly.

Make sure the tab within the battery housing unit is making good contact. You may need to lift it up if it has gotten mashed down underneath the battery.

If the receiver collar has adjustable correction levels, try to change the level to level two or above.

Perform Short Loop Test (see section What is a Short Loop Test and how do I do one?)

If receiver collar still does not activate – remove a wire from the transmitter, try to change the levels. If everything appears to work normally, please contact our Customer Care Center to discuss replacing transmitter.

If receiver collar does activate – the boundary wire probably has a partial wire break. See section on “What is a partial wire break and how do I find it?”

Begin by replacing the battery in the collar or charging it (for replaceabke batteries only).

Next, adjust boundary width control knob clockwise to increase the distance from the boundary wire that the receiver collar activates. You can also adjust the boundary control to another setting.

Check the setting of your boundary control switch located on the side of your transmitter and adjust it as needed. Reference the chart below for the appropriate setting for your layout.

If using a double loop, make sure boundary wires are separated at least 5 feet.

Perform Short Loop Test. If receiver collar activates 6 inches or more from wire, boundary wire has a partial wire break. See “What is a partial wire break and how do I find it?” If the receiver collar still has to be held on top of the boundary wire, please contact our Customer Care Center to replace the transmitter.

If the lights still do not come on, the fence transmitter and / or power adapter needs to be replaced. Please contact our Customer Care Center.

If Surge Protector is installed, unplug the Surge Protector and plug the Power Adapter directly into the outlet. If the transmitter operates without the Surge Protector, contact the Customer Care Center for a replacement Surge Protector.

The short loop test or system test is a simple test to determine if each component (fence transmitter, receiver collar, and boundary wire) is functioning properly. You'll need a piece of boundary wire at least 15 feet long. Write down the settings for your boundary control switch, boundary width control knob, and receiver collar before starting the test.

Remove the receive collar from your pet. Make sure the battery is still good.

Set the boundary control switch to B.

Set the receiver collar correction level to 5.

Disconnect the twisted boundary wire from the boundary wire terminals on the transmitter by pressing the red release levers on the connector and pulling the wires free.

Insert the two ends of the test loop wire into the two boundary wire terminals on the transmitter. Lay test wire in a loop.

Turn the boundary width control knob to 10 and then back to 5.

Place the test light tool contacts on the contact points of the receiver collar. While holding the receiver collar with the test light tool in place, approach the wire from outside the loop, holding the collar 2 inches off the ground. Note the distance where the receiver collar activates from the wire.

Turn the boundary width control knob to 10 and repeat step 7. The distance where the receiver collar activates should be greater than the previous result.

If more than one receiver collar is used on the system, repeat the above test on each collar.

Keep boundary width control knob position at 10. Set the boundary control switch to A. Approach the loop with the receiver collar as in Step 7 and verify the receiver collar activates.

Keep the boundary width control knob position at 10. Set the boundary control switch to C. Approach the loop with the receiver collar as in Step 7 and verify the receiver collar activates.

When testing is complete, return the boundary control switch and the boundary width control setting to the original positions noted earlier.

Remove the test loop wire. Reconnect the twisted boundary wire from the boundary wire terminals on the transmitter by pressing the red release levers on the connector and inserting the wires.

Repeat the boundary width testing from Step 6 until you achieve the desired boundary width of 12-20 feet.

Interpreting the Results

If the power light or the loop indicator light are not both lit on the transmitter, or the alarm is on for any of the above tests, there is a problem with the transmitter. Contact the Customer Care Center.

If both the power and loop indicator lights are on, but the receiver collar does not activate on the test loop wire, the receiver collar is not working. Contact the Customer Care Center.

If the transmitter power and loop indicator lights are on in each of the 3 boundary control switch positions, and the receiver collar is activating at different distances on the test loop wire, the problem is most likely in the containment boundary wire. Perform the wire break location test to find and correct the wire break in your boundary wire.

NOTE: Please note that some partial breaks do not cause the loop light to go out or the break alarm to activate, but can affect the signal. Be sure to check all splices, as many breaks in the wire occur in the area of the splices. When checking splices, look for any moisture or corrosion due to water getting to the wire.

A double loop is a type of wire layout which gives you the option to establish a boundary when you do not want to contain your whole property. In the double loop layout, you run the wire from your transmitter and around the yard. Once the wire reaches the opposite side of the yard from the transmitter, the wire needs to make a U-turn and follow the same path at least 5 feet away from itself as it goes back into the transmitter.

The Test Light Tool is used to tell if your collar is working properly. Hold the tool against the contact points and activate the collar. The tool will light up if the collar is activating. For a remote trainer, activate the correction using the transmitter. For a fence, move the collar near the boundary, holding the collar at your dog's neck height. For a bark collar, activate it by rubbing the contact points against a rough surface.